Delhi: Buses to get panic alarm system for women-passengers' safety
The Delhi government on the eve of International Women's Day on Wednesday launched a pilot project for equipping public buses with "panic alarm system" to ensure the safety of women passengers. Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot announced all buses in the national capital will have panic buttons by March 2019. The project has been implemented in collaboration with Bangalore-based NGO Project Durga. Here's more.
Panic alarms launched in five cluster buses of Rajghat-II depot
The pilot project for panic alarm system has been launched in five cluster buses of Rajghat-II depot. The transport minister said the panic alarms in buses will add the third line of defense to ensure women safety in Delhi buses. He said, "Our government has already deployed bus marshalls in all DTC buses and installed CCTVs in 200 DTC buses on pilot basis."
A safe and harassment-free bus ride for Delhi's women
Gahlot said, "By March 2019, we will be scaling up all these three initiatives to cover all DTC and Cluster buses thereby guaranteeing a safe and harassment-free bus ride for Delhi's women." As per the protocol of the system, upon hearing the alarm, the driver will take the bus to the left-most part of the road and bring it to stop.
Panic alarm system to be integrated with bus GPS location
After the bus is stopped, the conductor will be able to see exactly which location the alarm was pressed, and intervene in the situation. If the situation cannot be addressed on the spot, the conductor will immediately call the Depot Manager, who will intimate PCR van, if necessary. The panic alarm system will also be integrated with the bus GPS location.
